Closer To Heaven
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A raíz de la pandemia de 2020, se produjo un profundo cambio sociológico. Casi todo migró a Internet. Compramos en línea. Trabajamos en línea. Tenemos citas en línea. Incluso vamos a la iglesia en línea. Lo que comenzó como una necesidad se ha convertido, en muchos contextos, en la normalidad. Este cambio ha producido beneficios […] Source: https://atoday.org/editorial-argumentos-a-favor-de-la-iglesia/
Daily Lesson for Monday 23rd of February 2026
There are four different types of “if” statements in Greek, each with different nuances. The one with which Colossians 1:23 begins assumes that the condition is true.
Image © Lifeway Collection at Goodsalt.com
That is, Paul encourages the Colossians with the thought that they will, indeed, continue in the faith. As Paul soon indicates, he has already seen evidence of their faith and steadfastness (Colossians 2:5). Nevertheless, their hope is still conditional on their persisting on the path of faith that they have entered.
This idea of persisting is the meaning of the Greek word translated “continue” (Colossians 1:23, NKJV). It is used of the scribes and Pharisees who continued to demand of Jesus an answer as to what should be done with the woman caught in adultery (John 8:7); also of Peter continuing to knock at the door after Rhoda recognized his voice but left it locked and ran inside to tell the others (Acts 12:16). It is also used by Paul, who encourages Timothy to remain faithful to the doctrinal and practical instructions he has given (1 Timothy 4:16). His meaning here is similar except that it is applied to believers generally.
As we will see in next week’s lesson, Paul is concerned that the Colossians may chase after human-based ways of salvation instead of holding fast to the hope offered by the gospel (see, for example, Colossians 2:8,20-22). The word “grounded” refers to having laid a solid foundation of faith and love based on God’s Word (see Matthew 7:25, Ephesians 2:20, Ephesians 3:17).
Related to this idea is the Greek word translated “steadfast,” referring to an immovable structure and, by extension, to a Christian who cannot be “moved away from the hope of the gospel” (Colossians 1:23). The same word is used in 1 Corinthians 15:58: “be steadfast, immovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, knowing that your labor is not in vain in the Lord” (NKJV).
Contrary to the common belief of “once saved, always saved,” Paul is saying something completely different.
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What has been your experience regarding the importance of continuing to exercise faith? That is, why must you always make a conscious choice to do that? What will happen if you don’t? |
Ciudad de Mexico, 22 de febrero de 2026 – El pánico generalizado se tomo a los miles de residentes y viajeros, con vídeos que muestran a pasajeros y personal del aeropuerto huyendo en busca de refugio en medio de informes de disparos y enfrentamientos armados. La violencia se produce pocas horas después de que las […] Source: https://atoday.org/caos-y-violencia-en-mexico-autoridades-piden-mantenerse-en-casa/
But as many as received Him, to them He gave the right to become children of God, to those who believe in His name. John 1:12.
If we could appreciate this great blessing, what an advantage it would be to us! We are given the privilege of being laborers together with God in the saving of our souls. Receiving and believing is our part of the contract. We are to receive Christ as our personal Savior, and are to continue to believe in Him. This means abiding in Christ, showing in Him, at all times and under all circumstances, a faith that is a representation of His character—a faith that works by love, and purifies the soul from all defilement….
We must each obtain an experience for ourselves. No one can depend for salvation on the experience or practice of any other individual. We must each become acquainted with Christ in order properly to represent Him to the world…. None of us need to excuse our hasty temper, our misshapen character, our selfishness, envy, jealousy, or any impurity of soul, body, or spirit. God has called us to glory and virtue. We are to obey the call….
How can we escape the power of one who was once an exalted angel in the heavenly courts? He was a being full of beauty and personal charm, blessed with a powerful intellect. Because of his exaltation he thought himself equal with God…. How can we discern his false theories and resist his temptations? Only through the individual experience gained by receiving a knowledge of Jesus Christ our Lord. Without divine aid we could not possibly escape the temptations and snares that Satan has prepared to deceive human minds….
We are to walk as He walked, following closely in His footsteps, manifesting His meekness and lowliness…. The service of Christ is pure and elevated. The path He traveled is not one of self-pleasing, self-gratification. He speaks to His children, saying, “If any man will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow me.” The price of heaven is submission to Christ. The way to heaven is obedience to the command, Deny thyself, take up thy cross, and follow Me. As Jesus journeyed, so we must journey. The path He followed, we must follow; for that path leads to the mansions He is preparing for us.—The Review and Herald, April 24, 1900.
From the Heart p. 64
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Prayer Request
—-Please pray for my brother-in-law who is in the hospital with colon cancer. J
—-Please pray for Rosalie whose husband died seven years ago that God will give her comfort and peace. BH
—-My sister is severely depressed and is in a very difficult situation. Please pray for her get help for her depression and for God to help her through this situation. Kathy
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Dear Friends,
As a teenager Esther wrote a piece entitled “A Mother’s Love.” I don’t remember if she had put this to music or not.
“A mother’s arms holding her child. Her tender voice warmed by her smile. A mother’s eyes brightened with her tears. She gives her wants and hopes and all her fears to God.
A mother’s strength is found in our God. He gives her hope and faith to lead her children on. She holds her child’s hands gently in her own. She shows the tiny feet the long pathway home to God.
A mother’s love is sent from our God. He gives her strength and peace to carry on. With a gentle smile and arms open wide She welcomes love from her child, then gives it back to God.”
Shortly after Solomon became king, he used a mother’s love to make a decision that would affect that mother’s child forever. “Then came there two women, that were harlots, unto the king, and stood before him. And the one woman said, O my lord, I and this woman dwell in one house; and I was delivered of a child with her in the house. And it came to pass the third day after that I was delivered, that this woman was delivered also: and we were together; there was no stranger with us in the house, save we two in the house. And this woman’s child died in the night; because she overlaid it. And she arose at midnight, and took my son from beside me, while thine handmaid slept, and laid it in her bosom, and laid her dead child in my bosom. And when I rose in the morning to give my child suck, behold, it was dead: but when I had considered it in the morning, behold, it was not my son, which I did bear. And the other woman said, Nay; but the living is my son, and the dead is thy son. And this said, No; but the dead is thy son, and the living is my son. Thus they spake before the king. Then said the king, The one saith, This is my son that liveth, and thy son is the dead: and the other saith, Nay; but thy son is the dead, and my son is the living. And the king said, Bring me a sword. And they brought a sword before the king. And the king said, Divide the living child in two, and give half to the one, and half to the other. Then spake the woman whose the living child was unto the king, for her bowels yearned upon her son, and she said, O my lord, give her the living child, and in no wise slay it. But the other said, Let it be neither mine nor thine, but divide it. Then the king answered and said, Give her the living child, and in no wise slay it: she is the mother thereof.” 1 Kings 3:16-27
That mother’s heart yearned over her little one. All her hopes and dreams were wrapped up in him. Yet, she was willing to give her child to the other woman than to see harm come to her little one. Truly a mother’s love is strong. A mother would rather suffer than to see her child suffer. Indeed, when her child suffers (no matter what the age or what kind of suffering) the mother suffers as much or more.
We have Someone Whose Great Heart of Love yearns over us. Indeed, He loves us even more than we could ever love our children. Beyond this, He gave His Life for us that we might live with Him throughout all eternity. He assures us, “Can a woman forget her sucking child, that she should not have compassion on the son of her womb? yea, they may forget, yet will I not forget thee. Behold, I have graven thee upon the palms of my hands; thy walls are continually before me.” “I have loved thee with an everlasting love: therefore with lovingkindness have I drawn thee.” Isa 49:15, 16; Jer 31:3 The psalmist reminds us, “Like as a father pitieth his children, so the LORD pitieth them that fear him.” Ps 103:13
May our heart respond with love, trust, and praise to the One Who loves us so is my prayer.
Rose
Source: https://rosesdevotional.org/becoming-a-child-of-god.html
Daily Lesson for Sunday 22nd of February 2026
Paul has always painted a dark picture of humanity, at least humanity apart from the righteousness of Christ. And who today, almost two thousand years later, could argue with that sentiment? Someone once said that the one Christian doctrine that doesn’t need to be taken on faith is the sinfulness of humanity.
Image © Lars Justinen at Goodsalt.com
However, since the entrance of sin, God has taken the initiative to reconcile us, as bad as we are, to Himself. That is, from the start, God has worked to solve the problem of sin, even if the solution could be found only in His own death on the cross.
In Eden, He called out to Adam, His masterpiece of creation, “Where are you?” (Genesis 3:9, NKJV). And today, He continues to seek His one lost sheep—us. He seeks us out one by one. He has a perfect plan to reach us, applying the embryonic gospel promise of Genesis 3:15, putting enmity between us and Satan.
Sometimes the gospel is made so complicated and theoretical that it has little practical meaning for twenty-first-century living. But it’s really quite simple and straightforward.
The gospel has three parts:
First, because we are helpless to save ourselves, Jesus came and died for our sins. (See Romans 5:6-8.)
Second, by accepting His death as ours through faith, repentance, and baptism, we are justified and set free from the condemnation of sin. (See Romans 5:9-11; Romans 6:6-7.)
Third, the life we live now is the result of being united with Christ, experiencing His re-creating power, and His living His life in us. (See 2 Corinthians 5:17-21, Galatians 2:20.)
These are not necessarily separate steps or events. They can happen all at once, as soon as we are ready to accept Jesus into our lives. And they can be renewed every day as we give ourselves to Him each morning. Regardless of how each one of us has experienced the saving work of Christ in our lives, the foundation rests always upon the death of Jesus. To that we must always return.
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When you look at yourself, your character, and your innermost being, what does the sight tell you about your need of the Cross? |
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